Spring-wheel.



J. W. HBAGNEY.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLIUATION FILED 11011.25, 1011.

1,040,945. Patented 0G18, 1912.

SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@memo/a J. W. HEAGNEY.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION HLLD Nov. z5, 1011.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ml C0.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

JOI-IN W. HEAGNEY, OF MELROSE, IOWA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Application filed November 25, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8,1912.

serial No. 662,381.

To all whom it may concern? Be it known that I, Jol-IN WV. HEAGNEY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Melrose, in the county ofMonroe and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements inSpring-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is primarily designed to supply a vehicle wheel with ayieldable tread to render riding easy and comfortable and to overcomejar to machinery when the vehicle is of the automobile type, theprincipal object being the provision of a tread possessing substantiallyall the advantages of a pneumatic tire but free from the objectionsincidental t0 puncture and other causes which result in deflation of thetire and the excessive cost in the maintenance thereof.

The invention contemplates a sectional tread composed of members whichare pivotally connected, said tread being essentially of metal so as toresist wear and also by reasonof its peculiar formation to preventskidding or slipping, the latter being of value when the tire is appliedto the drive wheel of a mechanically propelled vehicle.

The invention further contemplates peculiar connections between thetread and the rim, said connections embodying guide means, springs andelements mounted to have a limited oscillatory movement in the plane ofthe wheel but prevented from any lateral or sidewise play.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of constructionand combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularlyset forth, illustrated in the accom an in@ drawino's and ointed out in oo a the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure lis a side view of a portion of the rim of a vehicle wheel embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the rim in the plane of thewheel, showing by full and dotted lines the extreme movements of theoscillatory guiding elements. 3 is a transverse section on the line -mof Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail View of a portion of the tread. Fig. 5 isa detail view of a part of the rim having a portion in section to showthe openings provided to receive the trunnions of the oscillatory guideelements. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the oscillatory guideelements. Fig. 7 is a detail view in perspective of one of the membersof the tread.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the samereference characters.

The invention embodies a channel rim l and a sectional rim 2. Thechannel rim l may be rolled or formed in any manner but the sectionalrim 2 is preferably cast, the parts being separable on a medial line andwhen assembled secured by means of bolts or fastenings 3. The edgeportions of the channel rim l embrace the sides of the rim 2 and aresecured by means of the bolts or fastenings 3. The channel rim 1 mayconstitute the felly of the wheel to which the tire is fitted and mayhave the outer ends of the spokes secured thereto in any manner. The rim2 has radial openings 4 which are slightly enlarged toward their ends inthe plane of the wheel. Transverse openings 5 intersect the radialopenings 4 and form bearings to receive the trunnions of the oscillatoryguide elements.

Sleeves 6 are mounted in the radial openings 4 and are adapted to havelimited oscillatory movement in the plane of the wheel but are preventedfrom any lateral or side movement. The sleeves 6 preferably taper from amiddle point toward their extremities and are formed intermediate oftheir ends with lateral trunnions 7 which are adapted to obtain abearing in the openings 5. rlhe opening of each of the sleeves oroscillatory guide elements G is uniform throughout its length to enablethe guide rods 8 arranged to operate therein to move freely without anylateral play or binding action. The ends of the sleeves 6 project beyondthe outer and inner walls of the rim 2 a dist-ance to insure propersupport and guidance for the rods 8. The sleeves 6 may `be cast orformed in any manner.

The Vguide rods 8 fit snugly within the sleeves G and their inner endsare threaded and receive nuts 9 and their outer ends are enlarged toform heads 10 which are slotted in their outer ends and have theirextremities made rounding to provide for a rocking movement of the treadmembers. The guide rods 8 are adapted to reciprocate within the sleeves6 and also oscillate with said sleeves in the Vplane of the wheel. Thenuts 9 are recessed in the sides facing the rim 2, said recessesconstituting seats to receive the inner ends of the helical springs 1l,the outer ends of said springs bearing against the inner side of the rim2 and entering grooves formed therein at the base of projections 12. Thesprings 11 exert an inward pressure upon the guide rods S.

The tread is flexible and comprises a plurality of members 13 which arepivotally connected in substantially the saine manner as links of achain. The tread members 13 consist of cast metal blocks, each block ormember having a tongue at one end and a corresponding recess at theopposite end so that when the members are assembled the tongue of oneenters the recess of the other, the parts being transversely aperturedto receive pivot or coupling pins. rlhe end of' one member is maderounding, whereas the end of the adjacent member is correspondinglydepressed or made concave, thereby admitting of the abutting ends of theineinbers fitting closely. Each member 13 has a centrally disposed lng14 upon its inner side which is adapted to enter the slot formed in thehead 10 of a guide rod, the parts being formed with registeringtransverse openings to receive a pivot pin 14an A projection 13UL isformed upon the inner side of each member 13 and a groove 13b providedin the member surrounding the projection forms a seat in which the outerend of a helical spring 16 is fitted. The helical springs 16 surroundthe guide rods 8 and the outer ends of the sleeves G and their innerends are "i seated in grooves 16 formed in the outer side of the rim 2at the base of projections 17. The projections 13a and 16a are ofannular form and taper slightly upon their outer sides so as to centerthe ends of the springs 16 which are fitted thereover. The annularprojections 13a have openings in line with the openings of the lugs 14to receive the ends of the pivot pins 14a. rl`he springs 16 aresufficiently' stout to press the tread portion of the tire outwardly soas to sustain the weight of the load.

The inner side of the rim 2 is grooved or channeled so as to affordprotection for the inner ends of the sleeves 6 and the projections 12.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of themethod of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artto which the invention appertains, and while I have described theprinciple of operation of the invention, together with the device whichl now consider to be the embodiment thereof, l desire to have itunderstood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that suolichanges may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claimsappended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, isf:-

1. A spring tire comprising a rim, a flexible tread comprising pivotallyconnected members, the latter having lugs and annular projections upontheir inner sides, guide rods mounted upon the rim and having theirouter ends made rounding to engage the inner sides of the tread membersand formed with slots to receive the lugs thereof, pins pivotallyconnecting the outer ends of the guide rods to the lugs and annularprojections, and springs interposed between the tread members and rimand having their outer ends fitted upon the annular projections of thesaid tread members.

2. A spring tire coinprisin'ga rim having radial openings and havingouter annular projections in line with the openings andv furtherprovided with grooves at the base of the annular projections, sleevesmounted in the radial openings of the rim and having a limitedoscillatory movement, a tread comprising pivotally connected members,

`the latter having lugs and annular projections upon their inner sidesand having grooves at the base of the annular projections, guide rodsmounted in the sleeves and pivotally connected at their upper ends tovthe lugs of the tread members, and helical springs surrounding theguide rods and having their ends receiving the annular projections of.the rim and tread members and fitted in the grooves of the respectiveparts. ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

J OHN W. HEAGNEY. Vitnesses:

DENNIS J. DINNEEN, MICHAEL J. COLEMAN.

I i Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents `each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, 1D. C.

